The heavy metal music band Metallica was formed in Downey, California. It was formed by Lars Ulrich (drummer) and James Hetfield (guitarist and vocalist). It is the most commercially successful band to ever appear on the heavy metal stage.

American actress, Julia Roberts, was born in Georgia, USA. She is one of the top selling actresses of the 1990's and 2000's and has the the record for highest paid actress of all time for her role in Mona Lisa Smile for which she received 25 million dollars.

American , John Romero, was born in Colorado. He is one of the worlds pioneering computer game designers with such credits to his name as the all time classics Doom and Quake titles.

Pope Paul VI announced that the church's ecumenical council agreed that the Jews were not to be collectively held responsible for the killing of Christ. The declaration in essence reversed the declaration that had been made in 1215 by Pope Innocent III.

American software designer, Bill Gates, was born in Seattle, Washington. He is the founder of the Microsoft corporation and one of the richest men in the world.

Italy invaded Greece through Albania. The day is a national holiday in Greece, as a celebration of Greece's entrance to the second world war and the heroic efforts of the Greek army that was able to resist the much bigger and better equipped Italian army.

Czechoslovakia gained its independence from the Austro-Hungarian empire.

American inventor Thomas Edison applied for the patent for an electric vote recorder.

British philosopher, John Locke, died at the age of 72. He was one of the most influential thinkers of the Enlightenment period.